Ron Barassi, Sr.

Ron Barassi, Sr.
File:Ron Barassi Senior.jpg
Personal information
Full name	Ronald James Barassi
Date of birth	24 October 1913
Place of birth	Melbourne, Australia
Date of death
Place of death	Tobruk, Libya
Original team(s)	Castlemaine
Height/Weight	173 cm / 72 kg
Position(s)	Rover
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1936-1940	Melbourne	58 (84)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1940 season.
Career highlights
Melbourne 1940 premiership side

Ronald James Barassi (24 October 1913 – 31 July 1941) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). His grandfather came from Italy and Ron was the father of Hall of Famer Ron Barassi, Jr. who was signed to Melbourne under the Father-Son Rule.

Originally from Castlemaine, Barassi was a rover and made his debut for Melbourne in 1936. His final league match was Melbourne's victorious 1940 Grand Final which he started as the 19th man.

Like many other footballers from the Melbourne Football Club he joined the army soon after. Serving as part of Australia's campaign in North Africa, he was killed in action at Tobruk in 1941, the first VFL footballer to lose his life in the conflict.

See also

• List of Victorian Football League players who died in active service
• Siege of Tobruk
• The Rats of Tobruk

References

Main, J. & Allen, D., "Barassi (snr), Ron", pp. 214–220 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen — The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. ISBN 1-74095-010-0

External links

• Ron Barassi, Sr.'s statistics from AFL Tables
• Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Ronald James Barassi (VX45220)
• DemonWiki profile
• Brief profile